Fox appeal hearing to reconvene next week

Sean Fox will have to wait to find out whether his attempt to clear his name over the Ice Saint affair has been successful after his appeal hearing at the Jockey Club’s disciplinary panel ran out of time today.

All the evidence was heard, but the hearing will reconvene next Thursday for closing submissions before the panel deliberates on a verdict.

Fox’s controversial ride on the Matt Gingell-trained gelding resulted in a 21-day suspension as the Fontwell stewards decided he had intentionally stepped off the horse after jumping the ninth fence in a race at the Sussex track on March 8.

The panel today considered the evidence that was before the local stewards as well as evidence uncovered subsequently as a result of Jockey Club security department investigations.

He was charged under rule 157, which specifies that a rider’s actions must be taken “with the intention of concealing the true ability of the horse or affecting the result of the race”.

Should the original findings of the local stewards be confirmed, then Fox could expect a more severe punishment.

However, if the panel conclude that Fox’s actions were not deliberate, then he could be punished under the lesser rule 158.